KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Brookfield, Mo., couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Charleston B. Leach, 31, and Cecilia Lynn Spath, 31, both of Brookfield, were charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

The federal indictment alleges that Leach and Spath conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine from March 1, 2014, to May 1, 2015. They are also charged with aiding and abetting each other to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams of pure methamphetamine and to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana on May 1, 2015.

Leach is also charged with one count of using the mail to facilitate the distribution of methamphetamine and marijuana.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

The Kansas Attorney General has filed terrorism charges against a man accused of barging into a state judge’s home and holding him hostage.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt filed criminal charges against Jason Linn Nichols, 33, in connection with the incident May 31 in Garden City, Ks. The charges are one count of terrorism by alternative means, one count of kidnapping, one count of aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of criminal threat and one count of criminal restraint. A judge set bail at $1.3 million.

In a news release, the A.G.’s office noted that Kansas law defines terrorism to include the commission of a felony with the intent to influence government policy by intimidation or coercion or with the intent to affect the operation of any unit of government. Under Kansas law, a terrorism conviction carries a possible life prison sentence.

Nichols is scheduled for a first appearance June 15 at 1 p.m. in Finney County District Court.

A copy of the complaint is available here.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced higher than average runoff in the Missouri River Basin.

Runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 4.5 million acre feet during May, according to a news release from the Corps. That’s 136 percent of average. The 2016 calendar year runoff forecast is 25.3 million acre/feet, which is the historic average.

Water releases from the dam at Gavins Point are currently set at 21,500 cfs, were lowered in May to reduce flood risk along the lower river. Those releases will be gradually increased as the downstream stages decline.

“Conditions in much of the Missouri River Basin were wetter than average during May. In the upper basin, heavy rains accompanied by mountain snowmelt increased runoff into the reservoir system,” said Jody Farhat, chief of the Corps’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. Widespread rain in the lower basin also increased flows on many of the tributaries below the reservoir system, causing tributary and Missouri River levels to rise. “Rainfall events like these can lead to localized flooding downstream of the reservoir system,” said Farhat.

The total volume of water currently stored in the Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir System is 59.4 MAF, occupying 3.3 MAF of the 16.3 MAF flood control zone. “The reservoirs remain well positioned to capture additional runoff should further reductions in releases become necessary,” said Farhat. “We expect to provide good service to all of the authorized purposes.”

Based on the current runoff and reservoir regulation forecasts, full-service flow support is expected to be provided for the second half of the navigation season. The system storage on July 1 will determine the navigation flow support level for the second half of the season as well as the navigation season length.

You can read the entire release from the Corps of Engineers here.

A Kansas woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to taking part in an interstate sex trafficking business.

Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall says Rachel Flenniken, 34, Topeka, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and two counts of using an interstate facility in furtherance of prostitution. In her plea, she admitted working for a male co-defendant who was running a prostitution business in Topeka.

At times, as many as 20 females were working as prostitutes in the organization. Flenniken’s employer rented houses where some of the prostitutes were allowed to live. He used Web sites, social media and cell phones to advertise sexual services and to keep track of the prostitutes.

Flenniken admitted she began working for the male co-defendant as a prostitute in 2008. By 2010, he put her in charge of other prostitutes. She was responsible for keeping track of their meetings with clients and collecting the money they received. She arranged interstate travel for the purpose of prostitution, posted on-line advertisements for workers, and maintained communication with prostitutes while they were working.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 17. She faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

Co-defendant Frank Boswell, 42, Topeka, Kan., is awaiting trial.